When Pureval took office in January, one of his stated goals was making justice more available.

The center will have its own staff attorney, Ron Wall, who most recently was executive director of a North Carolina nonprofit that worked to reduce racial disparities in that state's criminal justice system. Law students from the University of Cincinnati's law school also will volunteer.

It is located in Room 113 of the Hamilton County Courthouse and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Extended hours will be added later this year, officials said.

The new Hamilton County Municipal Court Help Center, at right, once had shelves packed with files.(Photo: Provided/Hamilton County Clerk of Courts)